An EJF policy briefing prepared for the Royal Thai Government: The Royal Thai Government has continued to make progress in addressing illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing and associated human rights abuses. EJF staff are also now actively engaging with numerous government agencies and special inspection teams across the country.
The Royal Thai Government has continued to make considerable progress in addressing and eliminating illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing and associated human rights abuses. EJF staff are also now actively engaging with numerous government agencies and special inspection teams across the country.
Stolen at sea: How illegal ‘saiko’ fishing is fuelling the collapse of Ghana’s fisheries: Illegal 'saiko' fishing costs Ghana tens of millions of dollars in revenue and threatens food security and coastal livelihoods.
Blood and Water: Human rights abuse in the global seafood industry: This report shows that human rights abuse is rife in the fishing industry - detailing cases of slavery, debt bondage, insufficient food and water, filthy living conditions, physical and sexual assault and even murder aboard fishing vessels from 13 countries operating across three oceans.
This report shows that human rights abuse is rife in the fishing industry - detailing cases of slavery, debt bondage, insufficient food and water, filthy living conditions, physical and sexual assault and even murder aboard fishing vessels from 13 countries operating across three oceans.
Fish in disguise: Seafood fraud in Korea: A year-long DNA test by EJF found that one out of three seafood samples in South Korea were wrongly labelled. This report provides a breakdown of the species most commonly mislabelled, illustrates the costs to people and the marine environment, and makes urgent recommendations for improving transparency in the Korean seafood system.
Between January and December 2018, EJF used DNA testing to determine levels of seafood fraud in the Republic of Korea. The results showed that over a third of samples tested were mislabelled. This mislabelling defrauds consumers, risks public health, harms the marine environment and can be associated with serious human rights abuses across the world. These findings demonstrate the urgent need for greater transparency and traceability in Korean seafood.
Gender Analysis: Ghana's Artisanal Fisheries 2019: Women play a vital part in Ghana's fisheries, yet have little say against the illegal fishing methods that are damaging their livelihoods. This gender report, co-authored by Hen Mpoano and EJF, provides a close look at the gender dynamics of the fisheries sector, and makes specific recommendations to strengthen women's voices.
Women play a vital part in Ghana's fisheries as business owners and fishmongers, yet have little say against the illegal fishing methods that are damaging their livelihoods. This gender report, co-authored by Hen Mpoano and EJF under the Far Dwuma Nkɔdo project, provides a close look at the gender dynamics of the artisanal fisheries sector, and makes recommendations to further empower women. It calls for the strengthening of women's organisations and the provision of leadership training, to build towards greater gender equity.
Working Conditions on Fishing Vessels in West Africa: A case study of abandoned crew in Las Palmas: Isabel's 12 crew from several West African countries were stranded in the Spanish port of Las Palmas where the vessel was detained by Spanish authorities for a number of safety and administrative infractions. The crew were forced to live on board the boat for five months with inadequate food and accommodation.
Isabel's 12 crew from several West African countries were stranded in the Spanish port of Las Palmas where the vessel was detained by Spanish authorities for a number of safety and administrative infractions. The crew were forced to live on board the boat for five months with inadequate food and accommodation. The crew members received 300 euros in total, only 25% of their salary. On the return of Isabel to Côte d’Ivoire in January 2014, one of the crew drowned in an accident in port. There was no evidence that steps were being taken to maintain adequate health and safety standards on the boat at the time of the accident.The treatment of Isabel’s crew in Las Palmas demonstrates that cases of abuse in the fishing sector can happen anywhere in the world and are not issues isolated to fisheries in developing countries.
Securing equitable and sustainable fisheries: The case for greater transparency in the management and governance of Ghana’s fisheries sector: Transparency must be improved to eradicate illegal fishing and prevent the collapse of Ghana’s fishing industry, says this new report from the Far Dwuma Nkɔdo project, which lays out key measures that can be implemented immediately by the government.
Transparency must be improved to eradicate illegal fishing and prevent the collapse of Ghana’s fishing industry, says a new report from the Far Dwuma Nkɔdo project, which lays out key measures that can be implemented immediately by the government. Transparency is crucial to provide much-needed accountability in a sector facing unprecedented challenges, as fish stocks plunge to their lowest recorded levels.
Far Dwuma Nkodo project update: July – December 2018: The Far Dwuma Nkɔdo project is implemented by EJF and Hen Mpoano, with funding from the EU. The project aims to secure greater environmental sustainability and social equity in Ghana’s fisheries sector, by supporting efforts to reduce illegal fishing and building the capacity of fishing communities in the sustainable management of their resource.
The Far Dwuma Nkɔdo project is implemented by EJF and Hen Mpoano, with funding from the EU. The project aims to secure greater environmental sustainability and social equity in Ghana’s fisheries sector, by supporting efforts to reduce illegal fishing and building the capacity of fishing communities in the sustainable management of their resource.
Illegal fishing and human rights abuses in the Taiwanese fishing fleet: This briefing details the EJF investigation which uncovered shockingly cruel and illegal practices on Taiwan-linked fishing vessels, including harpooning dolphins, finning and discarding tens of thousands of sharks, and catching vulnerable species of sea turtles and hammerheads. Nor were the vessels free of the human rights abuses previous EJF investigations have revealed in the fleet.
This briefing details the EJF investigation which uncovered shockingly cruel and illegal practices on Taiwanese fishing vessels, including harpooning dolphins, finning and discarding tens of thousands of sharks, and catching vulnerable species of sea turtles and hammerheads. Nor were the vessels free of the same human rights abuses previous EJF investigations have revealed in the fleet.
Thailand leads Asia by ratifying international standards for decent work in fisheries: Thailand is set become the first country in Asia to ratify the Work in Fishing Convention C188, which sets basic standards of decent work in the fishing industry.
Thailand is set become the first country in Asia to ratify the Work in Fishing Convention C188, which sets basic standards of decent work in the fishing industry. Despite obstructive tactics and attempts to derail the process by some sections of the fisheries industry, Thailand’s National Legislative Assembly voted today to ratify the convention. Without further opposition it should be in place January next year.
The ten principles for global transparency: Transparency in the fishing industry is the best weapon we have against the twin tragedies of illegal fishing and human rights abuse in the sector. EJF has collated ten simple principles for states to follow.
Protecting the guardians of our seas: Recommendations for a national plan of action for Liberia’s sharks and rays: Loss of sharks can lead to dramatic imbalances in marine ecosystems. This is particularly significant in Liberia, where 33,000 people rely on the fishing industry for their livelihoods, and 65% of all animal protein eaten comes from seafood.
Loss of sharks can lead to dramatic imbalances in marine ecosystems. This is particularly significant in Liberia, where 33,000 people rely on the fishing industry for their livelihoods, and 65% of all animal protein eaten comes from seafood. This report lays out the argument for a Liberian national plan of action for the protection of sharks and rays.